Method for covering a flower pot and floral grouping

ABSTRACT

A method of covering a flower pot with a floral grouping disposed therein. In the method, sheet of material with a sheet extension connected to the outer peripheral edge of the sheet of material and extending a distance therefrom is formed about the flower pot to a position wherein the sheet of material extends about substantially the entire outer peripheral surface of the flower pot to provide a decorative covering and the sheet extension is formed abut the floral grouping to a position wherein the sheet extension sxtends about a substantial portion of the floral grouping to a position wherein the sheet extension extends about a substantial portion of the floral grouping to provide a protective covering. A portion of the sheet of material is then crimped wherein the sheet is held about the pot by the crimped portion.

RELATED REFERENCES

The present application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/468,733,filed Jun. 6, 1995, entitled "COVERING FOR FLOWER POT AND FLORALGROUPING", now U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,077, issued May 27, 1997; which is acontinuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/037,067, filed Mar. 25, 1993, entitled"COVERING FOR FLOWER POT AND FLORAL GROUPING", now U.S. Pat. No.5,542,169, issued Aug. 6, 1996; which is a continuation-in-part of U.S.Ser. No. 07/926,098, filed Aug. 5, 1992, entitled "METHOD AND APPARATUSFOR FORMING A DECORATIVE COVER".

Application Ser. No. 08/037,067 is also a continuation-in-part of U.S.Ser. No. 07/940,930, filed Sep. 4, 1992, entitled "A METHOD OF FORMING AFLOWER POT COVER WITH CRIMPED PORTION", now U.S. Pat. No. 5,361,482,issued Nov. 8, 1994.

Application Ser. No. 08/037,067 is also is a continuation-in-part ofU.S. Ser. No. 08/001,001, filed Jan. 6, 1993, entitled "COVERING FOR AFLOWER POT AND FLORAL GROUPING", now U.S. Pat. No. 5,307,606, issued May3, 1994.

Application Ser. No. 08/037,067 is also a continuation-in-part of U.S.Ser. No. 07/968,798, filed Oct. 30, 1992, entitled "METHOD AND APPARATUSFOR COVERING PORTIONS OF A MATERIAL HAVING PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVECOATING APPLIED TO AT LEAST A PORTION OF AT LEAST ONE SURFACE OF THESHEET OF MATERIAL", now U.S. Pat. No. 5,369,934, issued Dec. 6, 1994;which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 07/865,563, filed Apr. 9, 1992,entitled "METHODS FOR WRAPPING A FLORAL GROUPING", now U.S. Pat. No.5,245,814, issued Sep. 21, 1993; which is a continuation of U.S. Ser.No. 649,379, filed Jan. 31, 1991, entitled, "METHOD FOR WRAPPING ANOBJECT WITH A MATERIAL HAVING PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVE THEREON", nowU.S. Pat. No. 5,111,638, issued May 12, 1992; which is a continuation ofU.S. Ser. No. 249,761, filed Sep. 26, 1988, entitled, "METHOD ANDAPPARATUS FOR COVERING PORTIONS OF AN OBJECT WITH A SHEET OF MATERIALHAVING PRESSURE SENSITIVE AND COATING APPLIED TO AT LEAST A PORTION OFAT LEAST ONE SURFACE OF THE SHEET OF MATERIAL", now abandoned.

Application 08/037,067 is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No.819,311, filed Jan. 9, 1992, entitled, "MEANS FOR SECURING A DECORATIVECOVER ABOUT A FLOWER POT", now abandoned; which is a continuation ofU.S. Ser. No. 765,416, filed Sep. 26, 1991, entitled, "MEANS FORSECURING A DECORATIVE COVER ABOUT A FLOWER POT", now U.S. Pat. No.5,105,599, issued Apr. 21, 1992; which is a continuation of U.S. Ser.No. 530,491, filed May 29, 1990, entitled, "MEANS FOR SECURING ADECORATIVE COVER ABOUT A FLOWER POT", now abandoned; which is acontinuation of U.S. Ser. No. 315,169, filed Feb. 24, 1989, entitled,"MEANS FOR SECURING A DECORATIVE COVER ABOUT A FLOWER POT", nowabandoned.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to coverings for flower pots andfloral groupings and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation,to a covering having a portion extending about a flower pot forproviding a decorative covering and another portion extending about thefloral grouping disposed in the flower pot for providing a protectivecovering for the floral grouping.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the upper surface of a sheet of materialwith a sheet extension connected thereto constructed in accordance withthe present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the sheet of material of FIG. 1formed about a flower pot and the sheet extension formed about a floralgrouping to provide a protective covering.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view showing the sheet of material formed aboutthe flower pot as shown in FIG. 2 with the flower pot not being shown inFIG. 3 and showing the sheet extension wrapped about the floralgrouping.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a portion of the sheet of material crimpedto form an overlapping fold.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the lower surface of a modified sheet ofmaterial having a sheet extension connected thereto.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a portion of the sheet of material ofFIG. 5 crimped to form an overlapping fold.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a sheet of material wrapped about aflower pot to form a modified decorative covering and showing the sheetextension formed about a floral grouping to provide a protectivecovering.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the upper surface of another modified sheet ofmaterial and showing a modified sheet extension connected thereto.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the sheet of material and sheet extensionof FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the upper surface of yet another modifiedsheet of material with a sheet extension connected thereto.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing the modified sheet of material ofFIG. 10 formed about a flower pot and the sheet extension formed about afloral grouping.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the upper surface of still another modifiedsheet of material with a modified sheet extension connected thereto.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the sheet of material and the sheetextension of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of the upper surface of still another modifiedsheet of material with a modified sheet extension connected thereto.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view of the sheet of material and the sheetextension of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a plan view of the lower surface of still another modifiedsheet of material with a sheet extension connected thereto.

FIG. 17 is a sectional view of the sheet of material of FIG. 16 formedabout a flower pot and the sheet extension formed about a floralgrouping.

FIG. 18 is a end elevational view of a pad of sheets of material withsheet extension connected thereto constructed in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 19 is a diagrammatic, end elevational view of a roll of materialfor providing sheets of material with sheet extension connected theretoin accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the roll of material for providingsheets of material with sheet extension connected thereto in accordancewith the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a plan view of the upper surface of yet another modifiedsheet of material with a sheet extension connected thereto.

FIG. 22 is a sectional view showing the sheet of material of FIG. 21formed about a flower pot and the sheet extension formed about a floralgrouping.

FIG. 23 is a sectional view of the sheet of material of FIG. 21 wrappedabout a flower pot with the section taken along the horizontal plane ascompared to the section taken along the vertical plane shown in FIG. 22.

FIG. 24 is an elevational view of a modified flower pot for cooperatingto connect the sheet of material thereto.

FIG. 25 is a sectional view showing a sheet of material wrapped about aflower pot for forming yet another modified decorative cover with asheet extension connected thereto.

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of a modified flower pot for cooperatingto secure a sheet of material wrapped thereabout to form a modifieddecorative cover like the decorative cover shown in FIG. 25.

FIG. 27 is a plan view of the lower surface of still another modifiedsheet of material having a ribbon connected thereto and showing a sheetextension connected thereto with a ribbon connected to the sheetextension.

FIG. 28 is a sectional view of the modified sheet of material with thesheet extension connected thereto shown in FIG. 27.

FIG. 29 is a front elevational view of the sheet of material of FIG. 27wrapped about a flower pot (not shown) to form another modifieddecorative covering and the sheet extension formed about the floralgrouping to provide a protective covering.

FIG. 30 is a sectional view of a flower pot with a floral groupingdisposed therein and showing a sheet of material wrapped about theflower pot and secured thereto with a band, the sheet of material havinga sheet extension connected thereto formed about the floral grouping forproviding a protective covering.

FIG. 31 is a perspective view of a flower pot cover with a sheetextension constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 32 is an elevational view of the flower pot cover of FIG. 1 withthe sheet extension connected thereto.

FIG. 33 is a sectional view of a flower pot with the flower pot cover ofFIGS. 1 and 2 placed thereabout and with a crimped portion formed in theflower pot cover and with the sheet extension connected thereto.

FIG. 34 is a perspective view of a modified flower pot cover with asheet extension connected thereto constructed in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 35 is a sectional view showing the flower pot cover of FIG. 5placed about a flower pot with the flower pot cover having a crimpedportion formed therein, the flower pot cover having the sheet extensionconnected thereto.

FIG. 36 is a perspective view of yet another modified flower pot coverwith a sheet extension connected thereto.

FIG. 37 is a sectional view showing the flower pot cover of FIG. 8disposed about a flower pot with a crimped portion being formed in theflower pot cover and showing the sheet extension formed about the floralgrouping.

FIG. 38 is an elevational view of still another modified flower potcover with the sheet extension connected thereto.

FIG. 39 is an elevational view of still another modified flower potcover with the sheet extension connected thereto.

FIG. 40 is an elevational view of still another modified flower potcover with a sheet extension connected thereto.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Shown in FIG. 1 and designated by the general reference number 10 is asheet of material constructed in accordance with the present invention.

The sheet of material 10 includes a first end 12, a second end 14, afirst side 16 and a second side 18. The sheet of material 10 alsoincludes an upper surface 20 (FIG. 1) and a lower surface 22 (FIG. 2).

A connecting bonding material 24 is disposed on the upper surface 20 ofthe sheet of material 10. The sheet of material 10 has an outerperipheral surface 26. The connecting bonding material 10 is disposednear and spaced a distance 28 from the outer peripheral surface 26 ofthe sheet of material 10 and extends generally circumferentially aboutthe sheet of material 10.

The sheet of material 10 shown in FIG. 1 is circularly shaped and theconnecting bonding material 24 extends in a circularly shaped patternover the upper surface 20 of the sheet of material 10. The sheet ofmaterial 10 may be any geometric shape such as square or rectangular orheart shaped or trapezoidally shaped or any other geometric shape.Further, the connecting bonding material 24 may extend in any geometricpattern over the upper surface 20 of the sheet of material 10, and thecircularly shaped pattern is shown in FIG. 1 only by way of example.

A sheet extension 25 is connected to the sheet of material 10. The sheetextension 25 extends about the outer peripheral surface 26 of the sheetof material 10. The sheet extension 25 extends outwardly from the sheetof material 10 terminating with an outer peripheral surface 27. Thesheet extension 25 has an upper surface 29 (FIG. 1) and a lower surface31 (FIG. 2). The upper surface 29 is disposed in a plane about coplanarwith the upper surface 22 of the sheet of material 10 and lower surface31 is disposed in a plane about coplanar with the lower surface 22 ofthe sheet of material 10.

The sheet extension 25 and the sheet of material 10 may be integrallyconstructed of a single sheet of material or the sheet extension 25 maybe laminated to the sheet of material 10. A connecting bonding material33 is disposed on the upper surface 29 of the sheet extension 25. Theconnecting bonding material 33 is disposed near and spaced a distancefrom the outer peripheral surface 27 of the sheet extension 25 andextends generally circumferentially about the sheet extension 25.

The sheet extension 25 is shown in FIG. 1 as being circularly shaped.The sheet extension 25 may be any geometric shape such as a square orrectangular or heart shaped or trapezoidally shaped or any othergeometric shape and the geometric shape of the sheet extension 25 may bethe same as the geometric shape of the sheet of material 10 or the sheetextension 25 may have a geometric shape different from the geometricshape of the sheet of material 10. Further, although the sheet extension25 is shown in FIG. 1 as extending circumferentially about the outerperipheral surface 26 of the sheet of material 10, the sheet extension25 may extend only about a portion of the outer peripheral surface 26 ofthe sheet of material 10 or the sheet extension 25 may comprise segmentswith each segment extending about a portion of the outer peripheralsurface 26 of the sheet of material 10.

The sheet of material 10 and the other sheets of material and the sheetextension 25 and the other sheet extensions described herein areconstructed from any suitable flexible material that is capable of beingwrapped or formed about a flower pot or a floral grouping as describedherein. Preferably, the sheet of material 10 and the sheet extension 25are constructed of a material selected from a group of materialsconsisting of paper, metal foil, cloth (natural or synthetic orcombinations thereof), denim, burlap or polymer film or combinationsthereof.

The term "polymer film" as used herein means any polymer film. Forexample, but not by way of limitation, one polymer film is apolypropylene film. Another example of a polymer film, but not by way oflimitation, is cellophane.

The sheet of material 10 and the sheet extension 25 each have athickness in a range from about 0.1 mils to about 30 mils. Preferably,the sheet of material 10 and the sheet extension 25 each have has athickness in a range from about 0.1 mils to about 5 mils.

The sheet of material 10 and the sheet extension 25 may be constructedof a single layer of material or a plurality of layers of the same ordifferent types of materials. Any thickness of the sheet of material 10and the sheet extension 25 may be utilized in accordance with thepresent invention as long as the sheet of material 10 and the sheetextension 25 are wrappable or formable about a flower pot or a floralgrouping in the manners described herein. The layers of materialcomprising the sheet of material 10 and the sheet extension 25 may beconnected together or laminated or may be separate layers.

A decorative pattern, such as a color and/or an embossed pattern, and/orother decorative surface ornamentation may be applied to the uppersurface 20 and/or the lower surface 22 of the sheet of material 10 orportions thereof including, but not limited to printed design, coatings,colors, flocking or metallic finishes. The sheet of material 10 also maybe totally or partially clear or tinted transparent material.

A decorative pattern, such as a color and/or an embossed pattern, and/orother decorative surface ornamentation may be applied to the uppersurface 29 and/or the lower surface 31 of the sheet extension 25 orportions thereof including, but not limited to, printed design,coatings, colors, flocking or metallic finishes. The sheet extension 25also may be totally or partially clear or tinted transparent material.In one preferred embodiment the sheet of material 10 has a decorativepattern applied to the upper surface 20 and/or the lower surface 22while the sheet extension is totally or partially clear or tintedtransparent. The sheet extension 25 is shown in the drawings as beingtransparent.

The term "bonding material" as used herein means an adhesive, preferablya pressure sensitive adhesive, or a cohesive. Where the bonding materialis a cohesive, a similar cohesive material must be placed on theadjacent surface for bondingly contacting and bondingly engaging withthe cohesive material. The term "bonding material" also includesmaterials which are heat sealable and, in this instance, the adjacentportions of the material must be brought into contact and then heat mustbe applied to effect the seal. The term "bonding material" as usedherein also means a heat sealing lacquer which may be applied to thesheet of material and, in this instance, heat also must be applied toeffect the sealing. The term "bonding material" as used herein means anytype of material or thing which can be used to effect the bonding orconnecting of the two adjacent portions of the sheet of material 10 toeffect the connection or bonding described herein. The term "bondingmaterial" also includes other forms of effecting the bonding describedherein such as chemical welds or heat fusion or welding by way ofexample only.

The connecting bonding materials 24 and 33 are shown in FIG. 1 as beingapplied to the upper surface 20 or the upper surface 29 in the form of acircularly shaped strip. The connecting bonding materials 24 or 33 maybe applied in the form of spots or spaced apart strips and the spots maybe any geometric pattern or any other type of pattern such as a logo forexample. Further, the connecting bonding materials 24 or 33 may includea color to obscure the fact that the connecting bonding materials 24 and33 are disposed on the sheet of material 10 or the sheet extension 25.

Shown in FIG. 2 is a flower pot 30 having an upper end 32, a lower end34 and an outer peripheral surface 36. An opening 38 is formed throughthe upper end 32 of the flower pot 30 providing access to a retainingspace 40. The retaining space 40 is sized to accommodate growing mediumsuch as soil for example and at least a portion of a botanical item suchas a plant or flower for example.

The retaining space 40 forms an inner peripheral surface 42 in theflower pot 30. A bottom 44 of the flower pot 30 is disposed at the lowerend 34 and cooperates to enclose or partially enclose the retainingspace 40. The flower pot 30 may be any conventional, commerciallyavailable container well known in the art.

Growing medium 45 is shown in FIG. 2 disposed in the retaining space 40and a floral grouping 47 is shown in FIG. 2 partially disposed in thegrowing media 45. A portion of the floral grouping 47 extends a distanceupwardly above the upper end 32 of the flower pot 30.

"Floral grouping" as used herein means any botanical item such asbotanical item such as flowers or plants or trees or the like, or asingle flower or a single plant or a single tree or the like, and mayinclude other floral materials and may include other secondary plantsand/or ornamentation which add to the aesthetics of the overall floralgrouping. The botanical item may be a growing flower, plant or tree orthe like, or may be an artificial flower plant or tree or the like.

The flower pot 30 is placed on the upper surface 20 of the sheet ofmaterial 10. More particularly, the bottom 44 of the flower pot 30 isdisposed on a central portion of the sheet of material 10. In thisposition, the connecting bonding material 24 extends circumferentiallyabout the flower pot 30 and the connecting bonding material 24 is spaceda distance from the flower pot 30.

The sheet of material 10 then is formed about the flower pot 30 to aposition wherein the sheet of material 10 extends about and encompassessubstantially the entire outer peripheral surface 36 of the flower pot30, including the bottom 44. It should be noted that the sheet ofmaterial 10 does not have to cover the bottom 44. In this position, aportion of the sheet of material 10 is disposed adjacent the bottom 44of the flower pot 10 and portions of the sheet of material 10 extendupwardly and encompass the entire outer peripheral surface 36 of theflower pot 30 between the upper end 32 and the lower end 34 of theflower pot 10. In one embodiment, the portions of the sheet of material10 extending over the outer peripheral surface 36 are spaced a distancefrom the outer peripheral surface 36 of the flower pot 30 to provide ablossom type affect.

When the sheet of material 10 is formed about the flower pot 30, aportion of the sheet of material 10 near the outer peripheral surface 26thereof extends a distance above the upper end 32 of the flower pot 30as shown in FIG. 2. Further, when the sheet of material 10 is formedabout the flower pot 30, the sheet of material 10 is sized and theconnecting bonding material 24 is positioned on the upper surface 20 ofthe sheet of material 10 so that the connecting bonding material 24 isdisposed a distance above the upper end 32 of the flower pot 30.

In this position, the portion of the sheet of material 10 disposed nearand about the connecting bonding material 24 is crimped by bringingtogether portions of the sheet of material 10 near and about theconnecting bonding material 24 so that portions of the sheet of material10 near and about the connecting bonding material 24 are disposedadjacent each other and the adjacent portions of the sheet of material10 are connected by way of the connecting bonding material 24 therebyforming a plurality of overlapping folds 45 in the portion of the sheetof material 10 near and about the connecting bonding material 24. Theconnected overlapping folds 45 extend at various distances and atvarious angles. The connected overlapping folds 45 (FIGS. 2 and 3) inthe area near and about the portion of the sheet of material 10containing the connecting bonding material 24 is designated in FIG. 2 bythe reference numeral 46 and sometimes referred to herein as the crimpedportion 46 (FIGS. 2 and 3).

A typical section showing a portion of a typical overlapping fold 45 isshown in FIG. 4. The adjacent portions of the sheet of material 10 onthe upper surface 20 are shown in FIG. 4 as being connected while theadjacent portions of the sheet of material 10 on the lower surface 22are unconnected since no bonding material is disposed on the lowersurface 22. It should be noted that connecting bonding material also canbe disposed on the lower surface 22 for connecting adjacent portions ofthe lower surface 22 in the crimped portion 46 if desired and asdescribed in more detail below.

The crimped portion 46 extends circumferentially about the upper end 32of the flower pot 30. The crimped portion 46 also extends a distanceinwardly from the upper end 32 of the flower pot 30 toward a centralportion of the retaining space 40 thereby forming a ridge portion 48extending circumferentially about the flower pot 30 generally near theupper end 32 of the flower pot 30. The crimped portion 46 and the ridgeportion 48 thereof cooperate to engage the upper end 32 of the flowerpot 30 to assist and cooperate in holding the sheet of material 10formed about the flower pot 30 to provide a decorative cover 50 (FIGS. 2and 3).

The crimped portion 46 when formed preferably causes adjacent portionsof the upper and lower surfaces 20 and 22 of the sheet of material 10 tobe brought together or positioned adjacent each other. The crimpedportion 46 and the other crimped portions shown in the drawings areshown in an expanded form where the portions of the lower surface 22 arenot disposed adjacent each other for the purpose of illustration andbecause this expanded form may be desired in some applications.

The portion of the sheet of material 10 extending between the connectingbonding material 24 and the outer peripheral surface 26 of the sheet ofmaterial 10 extends a distance above the crimped portion 46 and isflared outwardly and extends a distance radially outwardly from thecrimped portion 46 to form a flared portion 52. The flared portion 52extends circumferentially about the decorative cover 50 andcircumferentially about the upper end 32 of the flower pot 30.

In this embodiment, the connecting bonding material 24 preferably is apressure sensitive adhesive or a cohesive, although the connectingbonding material 24 could be in any of the other forms described before.

The upper surface 20 of the sheet of material 10 forms the innerperipheral surface of the decorative cover 50 and the lower surface 22of the sheet of material 10 forms the outer peripheral surface of thedecorative cover 50. The inner peripheral surface of the decorativecover 50 formed by the upper surface 20 of the sheet of material 10 isdisposed adjacent the bottom 44. The inner peripheral surface of thedecorative cover 50 formed by the upper surface 20 is spaced a distancefrom the outer peripheral surface 36 of the flower pot 30.

As described above, the flower pot 30 was placed on the upper surface 20of the sheet of material 10 and then formed about the sheet of material10 to form the decorative cover 50 with the upper surface 20 beingdisposed near the outer peripheral surface 36 of the flower pot 30 andthe lower surface 22 providing the outer surface of the decorative cover50. In the alternative, the flower pot 30 may be placed on the lowersurface 22 of the sheet of material 10. In this last-mentionedembodiment, the sheet of material 10 is formed about the flower pot 30in the manner exactly like that described before, except the lowersurface 22 is disposed near the outer peripheral surface 36 of theflower pot 30 and the upper surface 20 forms the outer surface of thedecorative cover 50 with the connecting bonding material 24 beingdisposed on the outer surface of the decorative cover 50.

Either before or after or during the forming of the crimped portion 46,the sheet extension 25 is formed about the floral grouping 47 to aposition wherein the sheet extension 25 encompasses a substantialportion of the floral grouping 47, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The sheetextension 25 extends upwardly about the floral grouping 47 with aportion of the sheet extension 25 extending upwardly beyond the upperend of the floral grouping 47 terminating with the outer peripheralsurface 27 of the sheet extension 25 and forming an open upper end. Inthis position of the sheet extension 25, portions of the sheet extension25 near the outer peripheral surface 27 (the open upper end) thereof arebrought into contact thereby bringing the bonding material 33 intocontact and engagement with adjacent portions of the sheet extension 25for closing the sheet extension 25 about or above an upper end of thefloral grouping 47.

In a preferred form, a line of perforations 53 (FIGS. 1 and 3) is formedbetween the sheet of material 10 and the sheet extension 25. The line ofperforations 53 extends generally about the outer peripheral surface 26of the sheet of material 10. The sheet extension 25 encompasses thefloral grouping 47 and provides a protective covering for the floralgrouping 47 to protect the floral grouping 47 during shipment and/orstorage. When it is desired to remove the protective covering providedby the sheet extension 25, the operator tears the sheet extension 25along the line of perforations 53 thereby severing or separating thesheet extension 25 from the sheet of material 10 so that the sheetextension 25 can be removed from the sheet of material 10 or, in otherwords, the protective covering may be removed from the decorativecovering by tearing along the line of perforations 53.

EMBODIMENT OF FIGS. 5 AND 6

Shown in FIG. 5 is a modified sheet of material 10a which is constructedexactly like the sheet of material 10 shown in FIG. 1 and described indetail before, except the sheet of material 10a includes a cohesive orpressure sensitive adhesive connecting bonding material 54 disposed onthe lower surface 22a of the sheet of material 10a. The cohesive orpressure sensitive adhesive connecting bonding material 54 extendscircumferentially about the lower surface 22a. The cohesive or pressuresensitive adhesive connecting bonding material 54 is spaced a distance56 from the outer peripheral surface 26a of the sheet of material 10a.Preferably, the distance 56 corresponds or equals the distance 28described before in connection with the sheet of material shown in FIG.1.

The sheet of material 10a includes the connecting bonding material 54(preferably a pressure sensitive adhesive or cohesive connecting bondingmaterial) on the upper surface 20a of the sheet of material 10a exactlylike that described before in connection with the sheet of material 10shown in FIG. 1.

The sheet extension 25a is constructed exactly like the sheet extension25 shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 and described in detail before, except thesheet extension 25a includes the connecting bonding material 33adisposed on the lower surface 31a of the sheet extension 25a.

In this embodiment, the sheet of material 10a is formed about the flowerpot 30 in a manner exactly like that described before in connection withthe sheet of material 10 formed about the flower pot 30 as shown in FIG.2, except in this embodiment, when the crimped portion like the crimpedportion 46 (FIG. 2) is formed, the adjacent portions of the sheet ofmaterial 10a in the area containing the connecting bonding material 54also will be bondingly connected (FIG. 6). Thus, in this embodiment, theadjacent portions of the sheet of material 10a on the upper surface 20aand the lower surface 22a are bondingly connected by way of therespective connecting bonding material 24 or the cohesive connectingbonding material 54.

The sheet extension 25a is formed about the floral grouping 47 in amanner exactly like that described before in connection with FIGS. 1through 3, except the bonding material 33a on the lower surface 31a isbrought into bonding engagement with adjacent portions of the sheetextension 25a to close the open upper end of the protective coveringprovided by the sheet extension 25a.

EMBODIMENT OF FIG. 7

Shown in FIG. 7 is another modified sheet of material 10b which isconstructed exactly like the sheet of material 10 shown in FIGS. 1-4 anddescribed in detail before, except, in this embodiment, the crimpedportion 46b extends a distance radially outwardly and circumferentiallyabout the upper end 32 of the flower pot 30. The sheet of material 10bis formed about the flower pot 30 in the manner exactly like thatdescribed before with respect to the sheet of material 10 shown in FIGS.1-4 and described in detail before, except the crimped portion 46b isformed to extend radially outwardly as opposed to radially inwardly inthe manner described before in connection with the sheet of material 10in the crimped portion 46 (FIGS. 1-4).

It should be noted that in connection with the sheet of material 10, 10aor 10b, the bottom 44 of the flower pot 30 may be placed on the lowersurface 22 and the sheet of material 10, 10a or 10b and then formedabout the flower pot 30 in the manner described before with the uppersurface 20 forming the outer peripheral surface of the decorative cover50 in lieu of the lower surface 22 forming the outer peripheral surfaceof the decorative cover 50 in the manner described before in connectionwith the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-7.

The sheet extension 25b is constructed exactly like the sheet extension25 shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 and described in detail before.

EMBODIMENT OF FIGS. 8 AND 9

Shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 is another modified sheet of material 10c whichis constructed exactly like the sheet of material 10 shown in FIGS. 1-4and described in detail before, except the sheet of material 10c doesnot include the connecting bonding material 24. The sheet of material10c includes a drawstring 58. The drawstring 58 is connected to thesheet of material 10c. The drawstring 58 has opposite ends 60 and 62.Portions of the drawstring 58 near each of the opposite ends 60 and 62thereof exit through respective openings 64 and 66 formed in the uppersurface 20c of the sheet of material 10c.

The drawstring 58 extends circumferentially about the sheet of material10c and the drawstring 58 is spaced a distance 68 from the outerperipheral surface 26c of the sheet of material 10c.

The drawstring 58 may be connected to the sheet of material 10c in anysuitable manner so desired in any particular application. In onepreferred embodiment, the sheet of material 10c comprises a first sheet70 and a second sheet 72 (FIG. 9). The drawstring 58 is disposed betweenthe first and the second sheets 70 and 72 and the first and the secondsheets 70 and 72 then are bondingly connected or laminated to form thesheet of material 10c. Portions of the first and the second sheets 70and 72 near the drawstring 58 are left unconnected so that thedrawstring 58 may slidingly move between the first and the second sheets70 and 72. The openings 64 and 66 more particularly are formed through aportion of the first sheet 70. The first and the second sheets 70 and 72are constructed of materials exactly like that described before withrespect to the sheet of material 10.

The sheet extension 25c is constructed exactly like the sheet extension25 shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 and described in detail before, except thesheet extension 25 does not include the connecting bonding material 33,although it could also include bonding material if desired.

The sheet extension 25c includes a drawstring 57. The drawstring 57 isconnected to the sheet extension 25. The drawstring 57 has opposite ends59 and 61. Portions of the drawstring 57 near each of the opposite ends59 and 61 exit through respective openings 63 and 65 formed in the uppersurface 29c of the sheet extension 25c.

The drawstring 57 extends circumferentially about the sheet extension25c. The drawstring 57 is spaced a distance from the outer peripheralsurface 27c of the sheet extension 25c.

The drawstring 57 may be connected to the sheet extension 25c in anysuitable manner so desired in any particular application. In onepreferred embodiment, the sheet extension 25c is formed by extending thefirst and the second sheets 70 and 72 (FIG. 9). The drawstring 57 isdisposed between the first and the second sheets 70 and 72 and the firstand the second sheets then are bondingly connected or laminated to formthe sheet of material 10c and the sheet extension 25c. Portions of thefirst and the second sheets 70 and 72 near the drawstring 57 are leftunconnected so the drawstring may slidingly move between the first andthe second sheet 70 and 72. The opening 63 and 65 more particularly areformed through a portion of the first sheet 70.

The sheet of material 10c is formed about the flower pot 30 in themanner exactly like that described before with respect to the sheet ofmaterial 10 shown in FIGS. 1-4 and described in detail before. Thedrawstring 58 is positioned on the sheet of material 10c and the sheetof material 10c is sized and shaped so that, when the sheet of material10c is formed about the flower pot 30, the drawstring 58 is disposedabove the upper end 32 of the flower pot 30. In this position, the ends60 and 62 of the drawstring 58 are pulled thereby drawing the portionsof the sheet of material 10c generally near the drawstring 58 inwardlyand crimping the portions of the sheet of material near the drawstring58 to form the crimped portion like the crimp portion 46 shown in FIGS.2 and 3. The ends 60 and 62 of the drawstring 58 then are tied orotherwise secured to maintain the crimped portion formed in thedecorative covering formed by the sheet of material 10c.

The sheet extension 25c is formed about the floral grouping to aposition wherein the sheet extension 25c extends about a substantialportion of the floral grouping. In this position, the ends 59 and 61 ofthe drawstring 57 are pulled thereby drawing portions of the sheetextension 25c generally near the drawstring 57 inwardly closing the openupper end of the sheet extension 25c about the floral grouping. The ends61 and 59 then are tied or otherwise secured to maintain the sheetextension 25c extending about the floral grouping to provide theprotective covering. The sheet extension 25c may be separated from thedecorative cover formed by the sheet of material 10c by tearing alongthe line of perforations 53c.

The decorative covering formed by the sheet of material 10c will looklike the decorative covering 50 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, except thecrimped portion 46 is formed by pulling the drawstring 58 and theresulting adjacent portions of the sheet of material 10c are notbondingly connected in the manner described before with respect to thedecorative cover 50. It should be noted that the sheet of material 10calso could include a cohesive or pressure sensitive adhesive bondingmaterial on the upper surface 20c of the sheet of material 10c exactlylike that described before with respect to the connecting bondingmaterial 24 on the sheet of material 10 (FIGS. 1-4). In this embodiment,the adjacent portions of the sheet of material 10c formed when thedrawstring 58 is pulled to form the crimped portion, also would bebondingly connected in a manner like that described before with respectto the decorative cover 50 and the crimped portion 46 (FIGS. 1-4). Also,the sheet of material 10c can be constructed like the sheet of material10a shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and described in detail before so that theadjacent portions of the lower surface 22c also are connected when thedrawstring 58 is pulled to form the crimped portion.

EMBODIMENT OF FIGS. 10 AND 11

Shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 is a modified sheet of material 10d which isconstructed exactly like the sheet of material 10 shown in FIGS. 1-4 anddescribed in detail before, except the sheet of material 10d alsoincludes a pot connecting bonding material 80 disposed on the uppersurface 20d of the sheet of material 10d. The pot connecting bondingmaterial 80 extends circumferentially about the sheet of material 10d.The pot connecting bonding material 80 is spaced a distance 82 from theouter peripheral surface 26d of the sheet of material 10d and thedistance 82 is greater than the distance 28d between the connectingbonding material 24d and the outer peripheral surface 26d. The potconnecting bonding material 80 is spaced a distance 84 from theconnecting bonding material 24d.

The sheet of material 10d is formed about the flower pot 30 in a mannerexactly like that described before in connection with the sheet ofmaterial 10 shown in FIGS. 1-4, except, in this embodiment, the sheet ofmaterial 10d is sized and shaped and the pot connecting bonding material80 is positioned on the sheet of material 10d so that, when the sheet ofmaterial 10d is formed about the flower pot 30, the pot connectingbonding material 80 is disposed near the outer peripheral surface 36 andnear the upper end 32 of the flower pot 30. In this position, theportions of the sheet of material 10d having the pot connecting bondingmaterial 80 disposed thereon are pressed or positioned against the outerperipheral surface 36 of the flower pot 30 so that the pot connectingbonding material 80 bondingly engages and bondingly connects a portionof the sheet of material 10d to the outer peripheral surface 36 of theflower pot 30 generally near and adjacent the upper end 32 of the flowerpot 30 for bonding a portion of the sheet of material 10d to the flowerpot 30.

The sheet of material 10d thus is bonded to the flower pot 30 by way ofthe pot connecting bonding material 80 and the connection between thesheet of material 10d and the flower pot 30 extends circumferentiallyabout the flower pot 30 generally near and adjacent the upper end 32thereof.

In this embodiment, the crimped portion 46d and the ridge portion 48dcooperate to secure the sheet of material 10d in the form of thedecorative cover 50 formed about the flower pot 30 and the potconnecting bonding material 80 also cooperates to maintain the sheet ofmaterial 10d in the form of the decorative cover 50d positioned aboutthe flower pot 30. The pot connecting bonding material 80 thus augmentsthe crimped portion 46d and the ridge portion 48d in maintaining thesheet of material 10d in the form of the decorative cover 50d securedabout the flower pot 30.

The sheet of material 10d also could be constructed like the sheet ofmaterial 10a if desired. The sheet of material 10d also could beconstructed like the sheet of material 10b to form the decorative cover50b in a manner like that described before with respect to FIG. 7 ifdesired in a particular application. The sheet of material 10d alsocould include the drawstring in the manner described before with respectto the drawstring 58 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 if desired in a particularapplication.

The sheet of material 10d is connected to the sheet extension 25d andthe sheet extension 25d is constructed exactly like the sheet extension25 shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 and described in detail before. The sheetextension 25d is formed about the floral grouping to provide theprotective covering in the manner exactly like that described before inconnection with FIGS. 1 through 4. The sheet extension 25d is shown inFIG. 11 formed about the floral grouping 47.

EMBODIMENT OF FIGS. 12 AND 13

Shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 is another modified sheet of material 10e,which is constructed exactly like the sheet of material 10 shown inFIGS. 1-4 and described in detail before, except the sheet of material10e does not necessarily include the connecting bonding material likethe connecting bonding material 24 on the sheet of material 10 shown inFIGS. 1-4. The sheet of material 10e includes reinforcing means 86connected to the sheet of material 10e. The reinforcing means 86 moreparticularly comprises a plurality of reinforcing elements with tworeinforcing elements 88 and 90 being shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 by way ofexample. Each of the reinforcing elements 88 and 90 are connected to thesheet of material 10e. The reinforcing elements 88 and 90 each extendcircumferentially about the sheet of material 10e. The reinforcingelements 88 and 90 are spaced about a distance 92 from the outerperipheral surface 26e of the sheet of material 10e.

The reinforcing elements 88 and 90 may be connected to the sheet ofmaterial 10e in any suitable manner. Preferably, the sheet of material10e is formed using a first sheet 94 and a second sheet 96 (FIG. 13)with the reinforcing elements 88 and 90 being disposed between the firstand the second sheets 94 and 96. In this position, the first and thesecond sheets 94 and 96 are bondingly connected or laminated together toform the sheet of material 10e. The first and the second sheets 94 and96 are constructed of any of the materials described before inconnection with the sheet of material 10 shown in FIGS. 1-4.

In this embodiment, the sheet of material 10e is formed about the flowerpot 30 in the manner exactly like that described before in connectionwith the sheet of material 10 shown in FIGS. 1-4, except the crimpedportion is maintained in the formed position by way of the reinforcingelements 88 and 90 which cooperate to maintain the portion of the sheetof material 10e in a crimped position to form the crimped portion suchas the crimped portion 46 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and described in detailbefore.

The reinforcing elements 88 and 90 may be constructed of any type ofmaterial capable of maintaining the shape of the crimped portion of thedecorative cover like the crimped portion 46 of the decorative cover 50described before. The reinforcing elements 88 and 90 may be wireelements for example or plastic rods and the reinforcing elements 88 and90 may be continuous as illustrated in FIG. 12 or in the form ofsegments as may be desired in a particular application.

It also should be noted that the sheet of material 10e can be formedabout the flower pot 30 to provide a decorative covering like thedecorative covering 50b shown in FIGS. 7 and described in detail before.It also should be noted that the sheet of material 10e may includeconnecting bonding material like the connecting bonding material 24and/or connecting bonding material like the connecting bonding material54 if desired in a particular application. In some instances, it alsomay be desirable to include a drawstring with the sheet of material 10elike the drawstring 58 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 and described in detailbefore. It also should be noted that the sheet of material 10e mayinclude pot connecting bonding material like the pot material bondingmaterial 80 shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 for forming a decorative cover likethe decorative covering 50d shown in FIG. 11 if desired in a particularapplication.

The sheet of material 10e includes a sheet extension 25e. The sheetextension 25e is constructed exactly like the sheet extension 25 shownin FIGS. 1 through 4 and described in detail before, except the sheetextension 25e does not include a connecting bonding material, althoughit could include connecting bonding material if desired. Rather, thesheet extension 25e includes reinforcing means. The reinforcing meansmore particularly comprises a reinforcing element 87. The reinforcingelement 87 is connected to the sheet extension 25e in a manner like thatdescribed before in connection with the reinforcing elements 88 and 90.

The sheet extension 25e is formed about the floral grouping in a mannerlike that described before in connection with the sheet extension 25shown in FIGS. 1 through 4. The open upper end of the sheet extension 25which extends above the upper end of the floral grouping is closed bybending and twisting the portion of the sheet extension 25e having thereinforcing element 87 therein. The reinforcing element 87 cooperates tomaintain the open upper end of the sheet extension 25e closed over thefloral grouping to provide the protective cover.

EMBODIMENT OF FIGS. 14 AND 15

Shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 is yet another modified sheet of material 10fwhich is constructed exactly like the sheet of material 10 shown inFIGS. 1-4 and described in detail before, except the sheet of material10f does not necessarily include a connecting bonding material like theconnecting bonding material 24 described in detail before with respectto the sheet of material 10. The sheet of material 10f more particularlyincludes reinforcing means 98.

The reinforcing means 98 comprises a plurality of reinforcing elements100 (only one of the reinforcing elements 100 being designated with thereference numeral in FIGS. 14 and 15). The reinforcing elements 100 maybe constructed of any material and any shape so long as the reinforcingelements 100 cooperate with the sheet of material 10f to reinforce thesheet of material 10f and assist in maintaining the formed shape of thesheet of material 10f. In one form, the reinforcing elements 100 maycomprise a plurality of wire elements or plastic rod like elements forexample. The reinforcing elements 100 may be continuous as shown inFIGS. 14 and 15 or may be segmented as may be desired in a particularapplication. The reinforcing elements 100 extend over substantially theentire surface of the sheet of material 10f.

The sheet of material 10f is formed about the flower pot 30 in themanner described before in connection with FIG. 2 or 7, except, in thisembodiment, the reinforcing elements 100 cooperate to maintain a portionof the sheet of material 10f formed in the form of the crimped portionlike the crimped portion 46 or 46b in lieu of connecting bondingmaterial.

The sheet of material 10f may include connecting bonding material likethe connecting bonding material 24 or connecting bonding material likethe cohesive connecting bonding material 54 if desired in a particularapplication. Also, the sheet of material 10f may include a drawstringlike the drawstring 58 shown in FIG. 8 and described in detail before.Also, the sheet of material 10f may include a pot connecting bondingmaterial like the pot connecting bonding material 80 shown in FIGS. 10and 11 and described in detail before.

The sheet of material 10f includes the sheet extension 25f connectedthereto. The sheet extension 25f includes reinforcing means 97. In oneform, the reinforcing means 97 comprises a plurality of reinforcingelements 101. The reinforcing elements 101 may be continuous as shown inFIGS. 14 and 15 or may be segmented as may be desired in a particularapplication. The reinforcing elements 101 extend over substantially theentire surface of the sheet extension 25f.

The sheet extension 25f is formed about the floral grouping in a mannerlike that described before in connection with the sheet extension 25shown in FIGS. 1 through 4. The open upper end of the sheet extension25f then is closed over the upper end of the floral grouping to providethe protective covering. The reinforcing elements 101 cooperate tomaintain the sheet extension 25f closed over the open upper end of thefloral grouping.

The reinforcing elements 101 preferably are not continuous or part ofthe reinforcing elements 100 so that the sheet extension 25f may beseparated from the sheet of material 10f by tearing along the line ofperforations 53f. The sheet extension 25f may include a drawstring likethe drawstring 57 shown in FIG. 8 and described in detail before.

EMBODIMENT OF FIGS. 16 AND 17

Shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 is still another modified sheet of material 10gwhich is constructed exactly like the sheet of material 10 shown inFIGS. 1-4 and described in detail before, except the sheet of material10g does not include connecting bonding material like the connectingbonding material 24 on the sheet of material 10 shown in FIGS. 1-4.Rather, the sheet of material 10g includes a shrink material 102disposed on the upper surface 20g of the sheet of material 10g. Theshrink material 102 may be constructed of any material which shrinkswhen subjected to heat or liquid or some other outside force or fluid.Such materials are well known in the art.

The shrink material 102 extends circumferentially about the uppersurface 20g of the sheet of material 10g. The shrink material 102 isspaced a distance 104 from the outer peripheral surface 26g of the sheetof material 10g.

The sheet of material 10g is formed about the flower pot 30 in themanner exactly like that described before in connection with FIGS. 2 or7. The shrink material 102 is positioned on the sheet of material 10gand the sheet of material 10g is sized and shaped so that the shrinkmaterial 102 is positioned above the upper end 32 of the flower pot 30when the sheet of material 10g is formed about the flower pot 30 in amanner like that described before with respect to the positioning of theconnecting bonding material 24 on the sheet of material 10 (FIGS. 1-4).In this position, the shrink material 102 then is subjected to heat orany of the other means mentioned before causing the shrink material 102to shrink thereby forming the crimped portion 46g (FIG. 17). The crimpedportion 46g will operate in a manner exactly like that described beforewith respect to the crimped portion 46 on the decorative cover 50 (FIGS.2 and 3).

The sheet of material 10g has the sheet extension 25g connected thereto.The sheet extension 25g is constructed exactly like the sheet extension25 shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 and described in detail before. The sheetextension 25g is formed about the floral grouping and a portion of thesheet extension 25g near the outer peripheral surface 27g is closed overthe upper end of the floral grouping to a position wherein portions ofthe sheet extension 25g are bondingly contacted by the bonding material33g to close the open upper end of the sheet extension 25g over theupper end of the floral grouping to provide the protective covering. Thebonding material 33g may comprise shrink material.

EMBODIMENT OF FIG. 18

Shown in FIG. 18 is a plurality of sheets of material 10h (only one ofthe sheets of material 10h being designated with a reference numeral inFIG. 18 for example). The sheets of material 10h are positioned andconnected together to form a pad 106. The sheets of material 10h may beconstructed in any of the forms of sheets of material described herein.

Each of the sheets of material 10h includes the sheet extension 25h(only one of the sheet extensions 25h being designated with a referencenumeral in FIG. 18 for example).

In this embodiment, one of the sheets of material 10h in the pad 106 isremoved from the pad 106 and formed about the flower pot 30 to providethe decorative covering in any of the manners described herein. In thealternative, the flower pot 30 may be placed on one of the sheets ofmaterial 10h in the pad 106 and then formed about the flower pot 30 toprovide the decorative cover in any of the manners described hereinwhile simultaneously removing the sheet of material 10h from the pad106. The sheet extensions 25h are formed about the floral grouping toprovide the protective covering in the manners described before.

EMBODIMENT OF FIG. 19

Shown in FIG. 19 is a roll of material 108 generally supported. In thisembodiment, material from the roll of material 108 is unrolled andpulled from the roll of material 108 in a direction 110 to unroll aportion of the material from the roll of material 108. When apredetermined amount of the material has been unrolled from the roll ofmaterial 108, a knife edge 112 is brought into cutting contact with aportion of the material unrolled from the roll of material 108 to severea sheet of material from the roll of material. The knife edge 112 may beautomatically actuated by an actuator 114 which may be a hydrauliccylinder for example or the knife edge 112 may be a manually actuatedknife edge or a knife edge on the edge of a container which contains theroll of material 108 for example.

In this embodiment, the material in the roll of material 108 isconstructed of any of the materials described herein with respect to anyof the sheets of materials with the sheet extension connected theretodescribed herein to provide any of the sheets of material with the sheetextension connected thereto described herein. In this embodiment, thesheets of materials with the sheet extension connected thereto describedherein are supplied in the form of the roll of material 108 and thesheets of material with the sheet extension connected thereto aresevered from the roll of material 108 in the manner just described.

EMBODIMENT OF FIG. 20

Shown in FIG. 20 is a roll of material 116 which is generally supported.The material in the roll of material may be constructed of any of thematerials described herein with respect to any of the sheets ofmaterials described herein. As shown in FIG. 20, the roll of material116 contains a plurality of spaced apart bonding materials 24j disposedon the material and the roll of material. The material in the roll ofmaterial also contains a plurality of spaced apart perforations 118(only one of the perforations 118 being designated with a referencenumeral in FIG. 20). The perforations 118 separate the material in theroll of material 116 into a plurality of sheets of material 10j. Each ofthe sheets of material 10j are constructed exactly like the sheet ofmaterial 10 shown in FIGS. 1-4 and described in detail before.

Each of the sheets of material 10j has a sheet extension 25j connectedthereto.

In this embodiment, the material is unrolled from the roll of material116 to a desired length. A portion of the material in the roll ofmaterial 116 then is separated from the roll of material 116 by tearingthe material along one of the perforations 118 to provide the sheet ofmaterial 10j with the sheet extension 25, connected thereto. The sheetof material 10j then is wrapped or formed about the flower pot 30 in anyof the manners described herein.

It should be noted that the sheet of material 10j has been describedbefore as being constructed like the sheet of material 10 shown in FIGS.1-4, although the sheet of material 10j could be constructed like any ofthe other sheets of material described herein if desired in a particularapplication.

EMBODIMENT OF FIGS. 21, 22 AND 23

Shown in FIG. 23 is a sheet of material 10k which is constructed exactlylike the sheet of material 10 shown in FIG. 1 and described in detailbefore, except the sheet of material 10k also includes a plurality ofstrips of pot connecting bonding material 120 with the individual stripsof the pot connecting bonding material 120 being designated in FIG. 21by the individual reference numerals 120a, 120b, 120c, 120d and 120e.

The pot connecting bonding materials 120 are spaced a distancecircumferentially apart about the sheet of material 10k. Each of the potconnecting bonding materials 120 extends from the connecting bondingmaterial 24 a distance radially inwardly toward a central portion of thesheet of material 10k. The pot connecting bonding materials 120preferably are pressure sensitive adhesive pot connecting bondingmaterials. The pot connecting bonding materials 120 also could be acohesive, however, in this instance, a corresponding cohesive potconnecting bonding material also would be disposed on the flower pot 30for reasons which will be made more apparent below.

The sheet of material 10k is formed about the flower pot 30 (FIGS. 22and 23) in a manner exactly like that described before in connectionwith the sheet of material 10 (FIGS. 1-4) except, in this instance,portions of the upper surface 20k having the pot connecting bondingmaterials 120 disposed thereon are positioned adjacent a portion of theouter peripheral surface 36 of the flower pot 30 whereby the potconnecting bonding materials 120 bondingly engage and bondingly connectportions of the sheet of material 10k to the outer peripheral surface 36of the flower pot 30. The pot connecting bonding materials 120 arepositioned on the sheet of material 10k and sized so that the potconnecting bonding materials 120 each extend generally between the upperend 32 and the lower end 30 of the flower pot 30 when the portions ofthe sheet of material 10k having the pot connecting bonding materials120 disposed thereon are positioned adjacent the outer peripheralsurface 42 of the flower pot 30.

Since the pot connecting bonding materials 120 are spaced a distanceapart circumferentially about the sheet of material 10k, portions of thesheet of material 10k will be bondingly connected to the outerperipheral surface 42 of the flower pot 30 while other portions of thesheet of material 10k will not be connected to the outer peripheralsurface 42 of the flower pot 30 (FIGS. 22 and 23). More particularly,when the sheet of material 10k is connected to the flower pot 30,portions of the sheet of material 10k will be connected to the outerperipheral surface 36 of the flower pot 30 at positions extendingbetween the upper and the lower ends 32 and 34 of the flower pot 30 andextending a distance circumferentially about the flower pot 30 to formconnected portions, while remaining portions of the sheet of material10k extending between the upper and the lower ends 32 and 34 of theflower pot 30 will not be connected to the flower pot 30 formingunconnected portions 124 (the specific or individual connected portions122 being designated by the reference numerals 122a, 122b, 122c, 122d,122e and 122f in FIG. 23 and the specific or individual unconnectedportions being designated in FIG. 23 by the specific reference numerals124a, 124b, 124c, 124d, 124e and 124f). Each connected portion 122extends a distance circumferentially about the flower pot 30 and extendsgenerally between the upper and the lower ends 32 and 34 of the flowerpot 30. Each unconnected portion 124 extends between the upper and thelower ends 32 and 34 of the flower pot 30 and each unconnected portion124 extends a distance circumferentially about the flower pot 30. Eachunconnected portion 124 is disposed generally between two adjacentconnected portions 122.

The sheet of material 10k also could be constructed like the sheet ofmaterial 10a (FIGS. 5 and 6) or shaped to form an outwardly extendingcrimped portion like the crimped portion 46b (FIG. 7) or to include adrawstring like the drawstring 58 (FIGS. 8 and 9) or to includereinforcing means like the reinforcing means 86 (FIG. 12) or reinforcingmeans like the reinforcing means 98 (FIG. 14) or shrink material likethe shrink material 102 (FIG. 16).

The sheet of material 10k has the sheet extension 25k connected thereto.The sheet extension 25k is constructed exactly like the sheet extension25 shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 and described in detail before.

In use, the sheet extension 25k is formed about the floral grouping andthe open upper end of the sheet extension 25k is closed via the contactbetween the bonding material 33k and adjacent portions of the sheetextension 25k in a manner like that described before.

EMBODIMENT OF FIG. 24

Shown in FIG. 24 is a flower pot 30l which is constructed exactly likethe flower pot 30 described in detail before, except the flower pot 30lincludes pot connecting bonding materials 126 (only two pot connectingbonding materials 126 being shown in FIG. 24 and designated therein bythe individual reference numerals 126a and 126b). The pot connectingbonding materials 126 are spaced apart circumferentially about the outerperipheral surface 36b of the flower pot 30 and each of the potconnecting bonding materials 126 extends between the upper and the lowerends 32l and 34l of the flower pot 30l.

The flower pot 30l may be used in connection with the sheet of material10k and the sheet extension 25k shown in FIG. 21 where the potconnecting bonding materials 120 on the sheet of material 10k arecohesive pot connecting bonding materials and the pot connecting bondingmaterials 126 on the flower pot 30l are cohesive pot connecting bondingmaterials. In this embodiment, the cohesive pot connecting bondingmaterials 120 on the sheet of material 10k cohesively bondingly engageand bondingly connect to the pot connecting bonding materials 126 on theflower pot 30l to form a decorative cover like that described before inconnection with the decorative cover 50k (FIGS. 22 and 23).

The pot connecting bonding materials 126 also may be adhesive potconnecting bonding materials 126. In this instance, the flower pot 30lmay be used in connection with a sheet of material like the sheet ofmaterial 10 shown in FIGS. 1-4 and described in detail before. In thisembodiment, the sheet of material 10 (FIGS. 1-4) is formed about theflower pot 30l in the manner like that described before in connectionwith the sheet of material 10k (FIGS. 21-23) and the adhesive potconnecting bonding materials 126 bondingly engage and bondingly connectto portions of the sheet of material 10 (FIGS. 1-4) to form a decorativecover 50k (FIGS. 22 and 23).

The flower pot 30l also may be used in connection with any of the othersheets of material and sheet extensions described herein.

EMBODIMENT OF FIG. 25

Shown in FIG. 25 is a sheet of material 10m which is constructed exactlylike the sheet of material 10d (FIG. 10), except the sheet of material10m does not necessarily include the connecting bonding material likethe connecting bonding material 24d shown in FIG. 10 in connection withthe sheet of material 10d. In this embodiment, the sheet of material 10mis formed about the flower pot 30 in the manner exactly like thatdescribed before in connection with the sheet of material 10d (FIGS. 10and 11), except a pot connecting bonding material 80m is positioned onthe sheet of material 10m so that a portion of the sheet of material 10mnear the upper end 32 of the flower pot 30 is folded over and disposedadjacent a portion of the inner peripheral surface 42 of the flower pot30 near the upper end of the flower pot 32. In this position, the potconnecting bonding material 80m is bondingly engaged with and bondinglyconnected to a portion of the inner peripheral surface 42 of the flowerpot 30 near the upper end 32 thereof. The bonding engagement between thepot connecting bonding material 80m and the inner peripheral surface 42of the flower pot 30 extends circumferentially about the flower pot 30.

The sheet of material 10m may be constructed like any of the othersheets of material described herein, except the pot bonding material 80mis positioned on the sheet of material 10m to bondingly engage andconnect with a portion of the inner peripheral surface 42 of the flowerpot 30.

The sheet of material 10m has the sheet extension 25m connected thereto.The sheet extension 25m may be constructed exactly like the sheetextension 25 shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 and described in detail before.

EMBODIMENT OF FIG. 26

Shown in FIG. 26 is a modified flower pot 30n which is constructedexactly like the flower pots 30 described herein, except the flower pot30n includes a pot connecting bonding material 128 disposed on a portionof the inner peripheral surface 42n of the flower pot 30n near andadjacent the upper end 32n of the flower pot 30n. The pot connectingbonding material 128 extends circumferentially about the innerperipheral surface 42n of the flower pot 30n.

The flower pot 30n may be used in connection with a sheet of materialand sheet extension constructed exactly like the sheet of material 10and sheet extension 25 shown in FIGS. 1-4 and described in detailbefore, except the sheet of material 10 does not necessarily include theconnecting bonding material like the connecting bonding material 24. Inthis embodiment, the sheet of material is formed about the flower pot30n in a manner like that described before in connection with the sheetof material 10 (FIGS. 1-4), except a portion of the sheet of material 10is folded over and adjacent a portion of the inner peripheral surface42n of the flower pot 30n into bonding engagement with the potconnecting bonding material 128 for bondingly connecting the sheet ofmaterial to the flower pot 30n in a manner like that described before inconnection with the sheet of material 10m (FIG. 25).

The pot connecting bonding material 128 as just described preferably isan adhesive pot connecting bonding material. The pot connecting bondingmaterial 128 may be a cohesive pot connecting bonding material and, inthis instance, the flower pot 30n would be used in connection with asheet of material and sheet extension like the sheet of material 10m andsheet extension 25m (FIG. 25) except the pot connecting bonding material80m would be a cohesive pot connecting bonding material 40 cohesivelyengaging and cohesively bonding with the cohesive pot connecting bondingmaterial 128 on the flower pot 30n.

The flower pot 30n also may be used in connection with any of the othersheets of material or sheet extensions described herein, except portionsof the sheet of materials would be bondingly connected to the flower potby way of the pot connecting bonding material 128 and, in this instance,it is not necessary to form the crimped portion, although the crimpedportion also could be formed if desired in any particular application.

EMBODIMENT OF FIGS. 27, 28 AND 29

Shown in FIGS. 27, 28 and 29 is another modified sheet of material 10pwhich is constructed exactly like the sheet of material 10 shown inFIGS. 1-4 and described in detail before, except the sheet of material10p does not necessarily include the connecting bonding material likethe connecting bonding material 24. Rather, the sheet of material 10pincludes a drawstring in the form of a ribbon 132 having opposite ends134 and 136 connected to a portion of the upper surface 20p of the sheetof material 10p. More particularly, a portion of the ribbon 132 betweenthe opposite ends 134 and 136 is connected to the upper surface 20p ofthe sheet of material 10p while portions of the ribbon 132 near each ofthe ends 134 and 136 are unconnected from the sheet of material 10p. Theportions of the ribbon 132 near the opposite ends 134 and 136 which areunconnected to the sheet of material 10p each extend a distance from thesheet of material 10p. The ribbon 132 may be connected to the sheet ofmaterial 10p in any suitable manner. As shown in FIG. 28, the ribbon 132is connected to the sheet of material 10p by way of an adhesiveconnecting bonding material 138. The ribbon 132 may be connected betweentwo sheets like described before in connection with the drawstring 58shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

The portion of the ribbon 132 connected to the sheet of material 10pextends a distance circumferentially about the sheet of material 10p.The portion of the ribbon 132 connected to the sheet of material 10p isspaced a distance 140 from the outer peripheral surface 26p of the sheetof material 10p.

The sheet of material 10p is formed about the flower pot with a portionof the sheet of material 10p extending above the upper end 32 of theflower pot 30. More particularly, the ribbon 132 is positioned on thesheet of material 10p so that, when the sheet of material 10p is formedabout the flower pot 30, the ribbon 132 extends above the upper end 32of the flower pot 30. In this position, the opposite ends of the ribbon132 are clinched or drawn tight to gather the portions of the sheet ofmaterial 10p near and adjacent the ribbon 132 over the upper end 32 ofthe flower pot 30 to form a crimped portion like the crimped portions 46described before. In this position, the ends 134 and 136 of the ribbon132 are tied or otherwise secured to the secure the ribbon 132 in thedrawn or pulled position. Then, a bow 142 may be secured to thedecorative cover 50p (FIG. 29) by adhesively connecting the bow 142 toeither a portion of the ribbon 132 or a portion of the outer peripheralsurface of the decorative cover 50p.

The sheet of material 10p also may be constructed like any of the othersheets of materials described herein to bond two portions of the flowerpot or to include connecting bonding materials for bondingly connectingadjacent portions of the sheet of material when the ribbon 132 is drawntightly about the upper end of the flower pot for example.

The sheet of material 10p has a sheet extension 25p connected thereto.The sheet extension 25p has a ribbon 150 connected thereto by way of anadhesive bonding material 151 (FIG. 28). The ribbon 150 may be connectedbetween two sheets like that described before in connection with thedrawstring 57 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. The portion of the ribbon 150connected to the sheet extension 25p extends circumferentially about thesheet extension 25p. The portion of the ribbon 150 connected to thesheet extension 25p is spaced a distance from the outer peripheralsurface 27p (FIG. 27).

The sheet extension 25p is formed about the floral grouping 47 (FIG.28). The ribbon 150 is drawn or pulled and then tied into a bow 153(FIG. 29) for closing the open upper end of the sheet extension 25p andsecuring the sheet extension 25p about the floral grouping 47 to formthe protective covering.

EMBODIMENT OF FIG. 30

Shown in FIG. 30 is the flower pot 30 having the growing medium 45disposed therein. The floral grouping 47 extends a distance above theupper end of the flower pot 30 in the manner described before. In thisembodiment, the sheet of material 10r is formed about the outerperipheral surface of the flower pot 30 and positioned so that a portionof the sheet of material 10r near the outer peripheral surface 26rextends a distance above the upper end 32 of the flower pot 30. Acircularly shaped band 160 is disposed about the portion of the sheet ofmaterial 10r extending above the upper end 32 of the flower pot 30. Theband 160 crimps a portion of the sheet of material and pulls a portionof the sheet of material inwardly above the upper end 32 of the flowerpot 30 for securing the sheet of material 10r in the position extendingabout the outer peripheral surface 36 of the flower pot 30 to form thedecorative cover.

The sheet extension 25r is connected to the sheet of material 10r. Thesheet extension 25r is constructed exactly like the sheet extension 25shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 and described in detail before or any of theother sheet extensions described herein. The sheet extension 25r isformed about the floral grouping 47 and a portion of the sheet extension25r near the open upper end of the sheet extension 25r is closed via thebonding material in a manner like that described before in connectionwith the sheet extension 25 shown in FIGS. 1 through 4.

It should be noted that the band 160 may be disposed about the sheet ofmaterial 10r and about the outer peripheral surface 36 of the flower pot30 for securing the sheet of material 10r in the position extendingabout the outer peripheral surface 36 of the flower pot 30 to providethe decorative covering if desired in a particular application.

As described herein, the various sheets of material are formed about theflower pot by hand forming the sheets of material about the flower potand by hand crimping the material to form the crimped portions. It iscontemplated that the forming of the sheet of material about the flowerpot and the crimping of the sheet of material may be accomplishedautomatically or semi-automatically by way of a machine. For example, amachine may,include pivoting elements or fingers which are automaticallypivoted to move the sheet of material about the flower pot and positiona sheet of material as described herein. In this instance, the fingersmay include a separate element for forming the crimped portion or theelement for forming the crimped portion may be a separate device such ashalves of a donut shaped device which are moved inwardly to form thecrimped portion after the sheet of material has been formed about theflower pot. In lieu of fingers or elements, the sheet of material may beblown by way of air jets or the like around the flower pot and then acrimping device may be disposed adjacent portions of the sheet ofmaterial to form the crimped portions. In a like manner, the sheetextension may be formed about the floral grouping in an automatic orsemi-automatic manner.

It also is contemplated that the crimped portion may be formed by astrivet or band which is automatically applied to the sheet of materialafter the sheet of material has been formed about the flower pot withthe strivet or band being positioned above the upper end of the flowerpot.

EMBODIMENT OF FIGS. 31 AND 32

Shown in FIGS. 31 and 32 and designated therein by the general referencenumeral 210 is a flower pot cover constructed in accordance with thepresent invention. The flower pot cover 210 comprises a base 212 and askirt 214. A sheet extension 25s is connected to the base 212 or, moreparticularly, to the outer periphery of the skirt 214. The sheetextension 25s is constructed exactly like the sheet extension 25 shownin FIGS. 1 through 4 and described in detail before.

In one preferred form, the flower pot cover 210 is formed by taking asheet of material constructed like the other sheets of materialdescribed and placing it between a male and a female mold. In thisembodiment, the male mold is brought into mating engagement with thefemale mold thereby forming the flower pot cover 210. In this process, aplurality of overlapping folds 216 (FIGS. 31 and 32) are formed in thebase 212. The overlapping folds 216 cooperate to maintain the structuralintegrity of the base 212 and cooperate to maintain the base 212 in thepreformed shape. Apparatus and methods for forming a flower pot cover asjust described are disclosed in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,182,titled "ARTICLE FORMING SYSTEM" issued Sep. 27, 1988 and assigned to theAssignee of the present invention and the disclosure of this patenthereby specifically is incorporated herein by reference.

The base 212 has an upper end 218, a lower end 220 and an outerperipheral surface 222. A pot opening 224 (FIG. 31) is formed throughthe upper end 218 of the base 212 providing access to a pot receivingspace 226 (Figures 31 and 33). The pot receiving space 226 forms aninner peripheral surface in the base 212. As shown in FIGS. 31 and 32,the base 212 is generally cylindrically shaped, although the base 212could be any geometric shape as may be desired in a particularapplication.

In a preferred manner, the skirt 214 is formed integrally with the base212. The skirt 214 is connected to the upper end 218 of the base 212 ata connection 230 (FIGS. 31 and 33) between the upper end 218 of the base212 and the skirt 214. The skirt 214 extends a distance radiallyoutwardly from the base 212 terminating with an outer periphery 232(FIGS. 31 and 33). The skirt 214 has an inner peripheral face 234 (FIGS.31 and 33) and an outer peripheral surface 236 (FIGS. 32 and 33). In oneform, shown in FIGS. 31 and 32, a plurality of folds 238 also are formedin the skirt 214 with most of the folds 238 extending radially outwardlyfrom the upper end 218 of the base 212 toward the outer periphery 232 ofthe skirt 214.

The base 212 and the skirt 214 may be constructed of any suitablematerial that is capable of being formed into the flower pot cover 210.As mentioned before, the base 212 and the skirt 214 are constructed froma sheet of material and the sheet of material is constructed from any ofthe materials described before in connection with the sheet of material10 for example.

A bonding material 240 (FIG. 31) is disposed on a portion of the innerperipheral surface 234 of the skirt 214. The bonding material 240 moreparticularly is disposed near the connection 230 between the skirt 214and the upper end 218 of the base 212. The bonding material 240 coversan area extending from the connection 230 of the skirt 214 to the upperend 218 of the base 212 a distance radially outwardly to a line 242(FIG. 31) spaced a distance radially outwardly from the connection 230.Although the bonding material 240 is shown in FIGS. 31 and 32 in theform of a continuous strip of the bonding material 240, the bondingmaterial 240 may be in the form of spots or spaced apart strips or anyother form desired in a particular application suitable for effectingthe crimping described below.

As mentioned before, the bonding material 240 preferably is an adhesiveor cohesive. More particularly, the bonding material 240 preferably is acohesive. When the bonding material 240 is a cohesive, a plurality ofthe flower pot covers 210 may be stacked one on top of the other withthe base 212 of an adjacent flower pot cover being disposed in the potreceiving space 226 of an adjacent flower pot cover 210. When thebonding material 240 is a cohesive, the bonding material 240 will notcause one flower pot cover 210 to be bonded to an adjacent flower potcover 210 when the flower pot covers 210 are stacked in the manner justdescribed.

The bonding material 240 may be applied to the sheet of material priorto forming the sheet of material into the flower pot cover 210 or thebonding material 240 may be applied during the forming of the sheet ofmaterial into the flower pot cover 210 or the bonding material 240 maybe applied after the flower pot cover 210 has been formed.

As mentioned before, the flower pot cover 210 is adapted and configuredto be used with a flower pot, a flower pot being shown in FIG. 33 anddesignated therein by the referenced numeral. 244. As shown in FIG. 33,the flower pot 244 has an upper end 246, a lower end 248, an outerperipheral surface 250 with an opening 252 being formed through theupper end 246 of the flower pot 244 providing access to a plant orflower receiving space 254.

In use, the lower end 248 of the flower pot 244 is disposed through thepot opening 224 and into the pot receiving space 226 of the flower potcover 210 to a position wherein the lower end 248 of the flower pot 244is disposed near the lower end 220 of the flower pot cover 210 and theupper end 246 of the flower pot 244 is disposed near the upper end 218of the flower pot cover 210.

After the flower pot 244 has been disposed in the pot receiving space226, a crimped portion 256 (FIG. 33) is formed in the skirt 214 bybringing together adjacent portions of the skirt 214 about the bondingmaterial 240 thereby causing the adjacent portions to be bonded togetherfor forming the crimped portion 256. The crimping of the skirt 214 maybe accomplished by hand or with a device or machine as may be desired ina particular application.

The crimped portion 256 extends a distance radially inwardly above theupper end 246 of the flower pot 244. The crimped portion 256.is disposedabout adjacent the upper end 246 of the flower pot 244 and the crimpedportion 256 engages a portion of the upper end 246 of the flower pot 244for cooperating to maintain the flower pot cover 210 assembled around orconnected to the flower pot 244.

The crimped portion 256 preferably extends circumferentially about theupper end 218 of the flower pot cover 210 and preferablycircumferentially around the upper end 246 of the flower pot 244. Insome applications, it may be desirable to form the crimped portion 256only at certain positions spaced circumferentially about the upper end218 of the base 212.

The flower pot cover 210 substantially encompasses the flower pot 244when the flower pot 244 is disposed in the pot receiving space 226.

The sheet extension 25s is formed about the floral grouping 47 (FIG.33). The sheet extension 25s is constructed exactly like the sheetextension 25 shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 and described in detail before.The open upper end of the sheet extension 25s is closed by contactingthe bonding material 33s with adjacent portions of the sheet extension25s in the manner described before. The sheet extension 25ssubstantially encompasses the floral grouping 47 and provides theprotective covering in the manner described before.

EMBODIMENT OF FIGS. 34 AND 35

Shown in FIGS. 34 and 35 is a modified flower pot cover 210a which isconstructed exactly like the flower pot cover 210 shown in FIGS. 31, 32and 33 and described in detail before, except the flower pot cover 210aalso includes a bonding material 258 disposed on the inner peripheralsurface 228 of the base 212 near the upper end 218 of the base 212 inaddition to the bonding material 240a disposed on the inner peripheralsurface 234a of the skirt 210a.

The bonding material 258a extends from the upper end 218 of the base 212a distance toward the lower end 220 of the base 212 to a line 260disposed near and spaced a distance from the upper end 218 of the base212. The bonding material 258 extends circumferentially about the upperend 218 of the base 212. The bonding material 258 substantially coversthe entire area between the upper end 218 of the base 212 and the line260. It should be noted that the bonding material 258, although shown asa continuous strip in FIG. 34, could be spots or spaced apart strips ifdesired in a particular application.

In operation, as illustrated in FIG. 35, the flower pot cover 210a isdisposed about the flower pot 244 in the manner described before inconnection with the flower pot 210 shown in FIGS. 31, 32 and 33, and thecrimped portion 256a is formed in the flower pot cover 210a in a mannerexactly like that described before in connection with the flower potcover 210 and the crimped portion 256 shown in FIG. 33. In addition, thebonding material 258 on the inner peripheral surface 228a of the base212a bondingly engages to a portion of the outer peripheral surface 250of the flower pot 244 near the upper end 246 of the flower pot 244. Thebonding engagement between the bonding material 258 and the flower pot244 further cooperates to secure the flower pot cover 210a to the flowerpot 244.

In those instances where the bonding material 258a is a cohesive, acohesive material also is included on the outer peripheral surface 250of the flower pot 244 for bondingly engaging with the bonding material258 on the flower pot cover 210a.

A sheet extension 25t is connected to the flower pot cover 10a. Thesheet extension 25t is constructed exactly like the sheet extension 25sshown in FIGS. 31 through 33 and described in detail before. The sheetextension 25t is formed about the floral grouping to provide theprotective covering in the manner described before.

EMBODIMENT OF FIG. 36

Shown in FIG. 36 is another modified flower pot cover 210b which isconstructed exactly like the flower pot cover 210 shown in FIGS. 31 and32, except the flower pot cover 210b does not include bonding materialon the skirt 214b like the bonding material 240 on the skirt 214 shownin FIGS. 31 and 32. Rather, the flower pot cover 210b includes bondingmaterial 262 disposed on the inner peripheral surface 228b of the flowerpot cover 210b near the upper end 218 of the base 212. The bondingmaterial 262 extends circumferentially about the upper end 218b of thebase 212b. The bonding material 262 extends from the upper end 218b to aline 264 spaced a distance from the upper end 218b of the base 212b. Thebonding material 262 substantially covers the entire area between theupper end 218b and the lines 264. The bonding material 262 could be inthe form of spots or spaced apart strips if desired in a particularapplication.

In use, the flower pot 244 is disposed in the pot receiving space 226bof the flower pot cover 210b, as shown in FIG. 37. The crimped portion256b is formed in the flower pot cover 210b by crimping togetherportions of the flower pot cover 210b near the bonding material 262 withthe bonding material 262 cooperating to bond the overlapping crimpedportions for maintaining the shape of the crimped portion 256b in amanner like that described before. In this application, the crimpedportion 256b is formed in the base 212b, rather than in the skirt 214bas is the case in connection with the flower pot cover 210 shown inFIGS. 31, 32 and 33.

The flower pot cover 210b includes the sheet extension 25u. The sheetextension 25u is constructed exactly like the sheet extension 25s shownin FIGS. 31 through 33 and described in detail before. The sheetextension 25u is formed about the floral grouping in the mannerdescribed before to provide the protective covering.

EMBODIMENT OF FIG. 38

Shown in FIG. 38 is another modified flower pot cover 210c which isconstructed exactly like the flower pot cover 210 shown in FIGS. 31 and32 and described in detail before, except the flower pot cover 210c doesnot including the bonding material 240 on the skirt 214. Rather, theflower pot cover 210c includes bonding material 266 on the outerperipheral surface 222c of the base 212c near the upper end 218cthereof. The bonding material 266 extends circumferentially around theupper end 218c of the base 212c. The bonding material 266 extends fromthe upper end 218c of the base 212c to a line 268 spaced a distance fromthe upper end 218c of the base 212c.

In use, the flower pot cover 210c is disposed about a flower pot 244 andthe crimped portion is formed by crimping together portions of theflower pot cover near and adjacent the bonding material 266 to form thecrimped portion in a manner like that described before in connectionwith the flower pot cover 210b shown in FIG. 37, except the bondingmaterial 266 is on the inner peripheral surface 228c of the base 212c,rather than the outer peripheral surface 222c as is the case with theflower pot cover 210b shown in FIG. 37.

The flower pot cover 10c includes the sheet extension 25w. The sheetextension 25w is constructed exactly like the sheet extension 25s shownin FIGS. 1 through 3 and described in detail before. The sheet extension25w is formed about the floral grouping to provide the protectivecovering in the manner described before.

EMBODIMENT OF FIG. 39

Shown in FIG. 39 is a flower pot cover 210d which is constructed exactlylike the flower pot cover 210c shown in FIG. 38 described in detailbefore, except the flower pot cover 210d also includes bonding material270 on the outer peripheral surface 236d of the skirt 214d near theconnection 230d. In this instance, the crimped portion is formed bycrimping together portions of the base 212d and the skirt 214d havingthe bonding materials 266 and 270 respectively thereon.

The flower pot cover 10c includes the sheet extension 25x. The sheetextension 25x is constructed exactly like the sheet extension 25s shownin FIGS. 31 through 33 and described in detail before. The sheetextension 25x is formed about the floral grouping to provide theprotective covering in the manner described before.

EMBODIMENT OF FIG. 40

Shown in FIG. 40 is another modified flower pot cover 210e which isconstructed exactly like the flower pot cover 210e, except the flowerpot cover 210e does not include the bonding material 266 on the skirt.Rather, the flower pot cover 210e includes only a bonding material 274on the base 212e which extends to a line 276. The flower pot cover 210ewill operate to form the crimped portion in a manner exactly like thatdescribed before with respect to the flower pot covers 210c and 210dshown in FIGS. 38 and 39, except the crimped portion only will be formedby crimping together portions of the bonding material 274 on the base212e.

The flower pot cover 10e includes the sheet extension 25g. The sheetextension 25g is constructed exactly like the sheet extension 25s shownin FIGS. 31 through 33 and described in detail before. The sheetextension 25g is formed about the floral grouping to provide theprotective covering in the manner described before.

The sheet extensions 25s, 25t, 25u, 25w, 25x and 25g may be constructedlike any of the other sheet extensions described herein as may bedesired in a particular application.

Changes may be made in the construction and the operation of the variouscomponents, elements and assemblies described herein and changes may bemade in the steps or the sequence of steps of the methods describedherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for providing a decorative covering anda protective covering comprising:providing a sheet of material having anupper surface, a lower surface and an outer peripheral edge, aconnecting bonding material being disposed on the sheet of material, asheet extension being connected to the sheet of material and the sheetextension extending a distance outwardly from the outer peripheral edgeof the sheet of material; providing a flower pot having an upper end, alower end, an outer peripheral surface and an opening extending throughthe upper end of the flower pot providing access to a retaining spacewith the flower pot having an inner peripheral surface encompassing asubstantial portion of the retaining space and the flower pot having abottom formed near the lower end of the flower pot, the flower pothaving a floral grouping disposed in the retaining space and extending adistance upwardly beyond the upper end of the flower pot; forming thesheet of material about the flower pot to a position wherein the sheetof material extends about a substantial portion of the outer peripheralsurface of the flower pot to provide the decorative covering with aportion of the sheet of material near the outer peripheral edge thereofextending a distance above the upper end of the flower pot with theportion of the sheet of material having the connecting bonding materialdisposed thereon being disposed above the upper end of the flower potand forming the sheet extension about the floral grouping to a positionwherein the sheet extension covers a substantial portion of the floralgrouping to provide the protective covering; and forming a crimpedportion in a portion of the sheet of material having the connectingbonding material thereon with the crimped portion formed in the sheet ofmaterial at a position above the upper end of the flower pot andcooperating to hold the sheet of material in the form of the decorativecovering extending about the flower pot with the sheet extensionproviding the protective covering for the floral grouping with thecrimped portion extending a distance radially outwardly away from acentral portion of the flower pot forming a ridge portion.
 2. The methodof claim 1 wherein the step of providing the sheet of material isdefined further as providing a sheet of material with the sheetextension connected thereto and having a line of perforations betweenthe sheet of material and the sheet extension, and wherein the method isdefined further as comprising:tearing along the line of perforations toseparate the protective covering formed by the sheet extension from thedecorative covering formed by the sheet of material.
 3. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the step of providing the sheet of material with thesheet extension connected thereto further comprising providing the sheetof material with the sheet extension connected thereto and with thesheet extension extending about substantially the entire outerperipheral edge of the sheet of material, the sheet extension extendingthe distance outwardly from the outer peripheral edge of the sheet ofmaterial terminating with an outer peripheral edge of the sheetextension, the sheet extension having an upper surface and a lowersurface, the upper surface of the sheet extension being disposed in aplane about coplanar with the upper surface of the sheet of material andthe lower surface of the sheet extension being disposed in a plane aboutcoplanar with the lower surface of the sheet of material.
 4. The methodof claim 1 wherein the step of providing the sheet of material with thesheet extension connected thereto further comprises providing the sheetof material with the sheet extension connected thereto and with thesheet extension extending the distance outwardly from the outerperipheral edge of the sheet of material terminating with an outerperipheral edge of the sheet extension, and wherein the step of formingthe sheet extension about the floral grouping further comprises formingthe sheet extension about the floral grouping to a position wherein thesheet extension covers the substantial portion of the floral groupingand a portion of the sheet extension extends above the floral groupingterminating with the outer peripheral edge of the sheet extensionforming an open upper end of the protective covering, and wherein themethod further comprises:closing the open upper end of the protectivecovering.
 5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of providing thesheet of material with the sheet extension connected thereto furthercomprises the sheet of material with the sheet extension connectedthereto and with the sheet extension having a connecting bondingmaterial disposed thereon, and wherein the step of closing the openupper end of the protective covering further comprises:bringing portionsof the sheet extension having the connecting bonding material thereoninto bonding engagement with adjacent portions of the sheet extensionfor bondingly connecting the adjacent portions of the sheet extensionand closing the open upper end of the protective covering.
 6. The methodof claim 4 wherein the step of providing the sheet of material with thesheet extension connected thereto further comprises providing the sheetof material with the sheet extension connected thereto and with adrawstring connected to the sheet extension, and wherein the step ofclosing the open upper end of the protective covering furthercomprises:pulling the drawstring on the sheet extension to close theopen upper end of the protective covering.
 7. The method of claim 4wherein the step of providing the sheet of material with the sheetextension connected thereto further comprises providing the sheet ofmaterial with the sheet extension connected thereto and with reinforcingmeans being connected to the sheet extension, and wherein the step ofclosing the open upper end of the protective covering furthercomprises:crimping the portion of the sheet extension with thereinforcing means disposed therein together to close the open upper endof the protective covering.
 8. The method of claim 4 wherein the step ofproviding the sheet of material with the sheet extension connectedthereto further comprises providing the sheet of material with the sheetextension connected thereto and with a ribbon connected to the sheetextension, and wherein the step of closing the open upper end of theprotective covering further comprises:pulling the ribbon on the sheetextension to close the open upper end of the protective covering.
 9. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the step of forming the crimped portion isdefined further as forming a plurality of overlapping folds in a portionof the portion of the sheet extending above the upper end of the flowerpot with the overlapping folds cooperating to form the crimped portion.10. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of forming the overlappingfolds is defined further as forming the overlapping folds with a portionof the sheet of material having the overlapping folds therein extendingcircumferentially about the upper end of the flower pot.